Saving money by reducing appliance costs

This article was huge - do you see why I split it up? Jam packed full of ideas from Mary Hunt about saving money on your energy bill....

Ideas on saving money on your appliance costs:

• If you're replacing your appliances, look for Energy Star-rated appliances.
• Fully load your dishwasher. It costs about $1 for each time you use it, counting soap, energy and water.
• Air dry dishes. Using the air dry option on your dishwasher can reduce its energy use by 15-50%. If you don't have this option, open the door to let it dry after the rinse cycle.
• Use the smallest appliance possible. A slow cooker or microwave uses less energy than the oven.
• Clean out the fridge. If it's too full, the air can't circulate well, and the refrigerator uses more energy to stay cool.